Somersetshire Farm-Prize Competitiott, 1875. 523 
The farm is held on a fourteen years' lease, four of which are 
jnexpired. There is no stipulated tenant-right in the covenant, 
leither does the custom of the country admit of any. The 
i^reement provides for a system of farming which is tolerably 
dosely described in Mr. Babbage's course of cropping, excepting 
hat, as a rule, he allows his grass land to remain down an addi- 
ional vear. The term commences at Lady Day. 
The homestead is rather inconveniently situated, nearlvat the 
vestern extremitv of the farm. The house, which is built of 
he stone of the district, contains two sitting-rooms, kitchen, 
lairy, pantrv and washhouse, with six bedrooms. 
The farm-buildings, also erected with the same material, 
onsist of one range occupied by a cow-house for milking cows, 
notherfor tying-up cattle, with a loose box adjoining; also barn 
nd chaff-house, with granary above, and stable for horses, behind 
vhich is a carthouse, and an enclosed shed for voung stock 
acing the stackyard, which is 120 feet square. 
I The cattle-yard is at the back of the dwelling, and in front 
f the range of buildings first alluded to, and is formed by a bank 
f earth cased up with stone running parallel to it, returning at 
ight angles on the one side to the house, and on the other to 
he end of the building. An open shed, which is thatched, 
ests on a portion of this wall. The garden is in front of the 
ouse. The premises are well kept, and are sufficient for the 
olding, the dwelling more especially so. 
Land. — Of the 221 acres which comprise the whole farm, not 
ven exclusive of the 15 acres which remain in a state of nature, 
one can accurately be described as permanent pasture, although, 
s we shall see from the course of cropping adopted, a con- 
iderable proportion is always in grass. 
The land under cultivation, therefore, somewhat exceeds 200 
ores. The whole of this, with the exception of about 20 acres, 
as unreclaimed at the commencement of the tenancy. Heather 
nd whortleberry principally prevailed, and the scant herbage 
lat existed was of a poor character, and barely sustained a few 
leep in the summer months. Of the remaining 15 acres of 
nconverted hill it is intended to reclaim about 6, the rest 
eing unfit to bring into cultivation, owing to the fact of the soil 
ontaining a mass of loose quartz-stones of various sizes, which 
ould he quite unmanageable in a course of tillage. 
The method pursued for conversion and speedy cultivation 
as as follows : — The surface was breast-ploughed and burnt, and 
le ashes were spread, at a cost of 30.s. to 35«. per acre ; the land 
as then ploughed about 5 inches deep. The principal obstruc- 
ons met with were quartz-boulders varying from ^ cwt. to 2 tons, 
hich caused considerable trouble in removal as well as break- 
je to the implements. Eight to ten hogsheads, equivalent to 
2 M 2 
